Lack of guttering - cause problems?

[The_Gza]

As I suspect many people have, I've had all of the guttering from the rear and one side of the house come down due the weight of snow and ice.

The claim is with the insurance company for the moment, but I don't expect that it'll be replaced very quickly given almost all of my neighbours have lost some too.

My main query was whether having no guttering would cause any short-term issues? Other than getting wet standing under the eves of the house that is! It's the upvc guttering and the clips (which incidentally were only attached to the fascia with one screw) that have came down - the fascia is still intact.

Thankfully no-one was underneath when it came down - the solid ice weighted a ton and wiped an outdoor light clean off of the wall on the way down!

Thanks in advance!

[Spudler]

The_Gza said:

My main query was whether having no guttering would cause any short-term issues?

Simple answer, no.

[chris1roll]

We didn't have any guttering on the back of our house for at least 10 years.
Only put some up to sell it....

[defblade]

Short term should be fine.....

...but I'm surprised you're claiming for this. If all the boards are OK it wouldn't take long to put back up yourself. You've already got one set of holes to line it up on

[The_Gza]

Thanks for the replies.

I did consider DIY, but by the time I added up hiring the appropriate ladders and the replacement bits it's not far off the cost of the excess, plus I just didn't fancy balancing 4m lengths of plastic guttering at the top of a massive ladder!

[russ_a]

Have to agree it would be cheaper to get someone in than claim.

[matts4]

and you'll get loaded on your renewal due to making a claim.
(you'll lose all your NCD)

[jeff m]

When you get it replaced ask for the fittings to be "not so far apart", I think your previous installer might have been a tad economic.

[LMC]

jeff m said:

When you get it replaced ask for the fittings to be "not so far apart", I think your previous installer might have been a tad economic.

Aah now there's the thing. I was moaning about this to my wife last week. We had a roof avalanche which brought the guttering down, and I looked at the neighbours house across the road. Identical new build.

Angry me bemoaning the fact that the fittings holding the gutter were much closer on his house than mine. "Cheap gits" I said, that's why ours came down.

Next day the neighbour had an avalanche, and (I suspect) because he had more fixings, closer = stronger, the slide pulled the guttering AND the facia down Now you can see his rafters. I think we got away lightly.

[eps]

Just out of interest, what age is the property. A lack of guttering on pre 1920s houses may well cause issues short, medium and long term. Especially if the property doesn't have a cavity wall. Although I'm guessing that it's not pre 1920s..

[blackcab]

Spudler said:

The_Gza said:

My main query was whether having no guttering would cause any short-term issues?

Simple answer, no.

Other than water trickling down your house and freezing, or dripping on to a path below and freezing, other than that then as above it should not be a problem short term.

Guttering and brackets is cheap to buy and install and get a local roofer/handyman to put up

Plastic brackets are about £3/4 each and guttering is about £16 per 3m - I normally charge about £35 per meter installed

My advice is dont do it yourself its not worth the hassle for a few hudred quid, its a long way down if you fall

[Globs]

LMC said:

jeff m said:

When you get it replaced ask for the fittings to be "not so far apart", I think your previous installer might have been a tad economic.

Aah now there's the thing. I was moaning about this to my wife last week. We had a roof avalanche which brought the guttering down, and I looked at the neighbours house across the road. Identical new build.

Angry me bemoaning the fact that the fittings holding the gutter were much closer on his house than mine. "Cheap gits" I said, that's why ours came down.

Next day the neighbour had an avalanche, and (I suspect) because he had more fixings, closer = stronger, the slide pulled the guttering AND the facia down Now you can see his rafters. I think we got away lightly.

Doh!!
Facia board is expensive.